AN: HEY GUYS! I know it's been a while, and I've been inactive. I've been super incredibly busy, and haven't really come up with any new X-men stuff. So I switched fandoms! :D This story features Burgh, yes, from Pokemon, and Lenora. There is NOT a Burgh/Lenora pairing in this! This is an idea I've had for quite a while. In my headcannon, Lenore is like Burgh's mother figure, and in this chapter it explores how they meet. Thanks for checking this out! Please read and review if you like it!
"Honey, where are you?" called a woman's voice.
Keep going; they can't bring you back.
"Please listen to me baby, they're gone!" the voice said again. He'd never heard it before.
Don't get distracted. Stay calm and stay quick. They can't catch you.
"I'm not fast enough; I can't keep up with your little white boy legs. Please stop running! I can help you."
He finally skidded to a stop, using a tree to help him stand. He was tired, thirsty, panting. He was alert, on edge, and his green eyes darted around to take in the forest scene.
Then he heard rushed footsteps. He got defensive.
"Who's there!" he called, his voice high and child-like.
The steps stopped. There was a faint panting. And then a voice. That voice.
"Baby, you don't know me by my name," she said, "but if you stay there I can show you."
He didn't know why, but he stayed put. Something about that voice was calming to his nine year old brain. He tensed up, bringing an arm in front of his face should an attack come his way. But as the bushes parted he didn't see a dangerous Pokemon, or even the horrible woman that had scared him out of her house, made him run.
"It's okay baby, I'm not going to hurt you," said the calm voice.
He brought his arm down a little, his fist level to his eye, and stared at the woman that stepped out. He'd seen her before, in another city. She was tall, black, and had teal hair tied back in a ponytail that poofed out quite a bit. She wore a pinkish apron over a simple cream dress that day. His eyes widened a little.
"A-Aren't you…Aren't you a Pokemon gym leader?" he asked slowly. She nodded, her eyes bright and sweet.
"Yes baby, yes I am. My name's Lenora," she introduced, holding out a hand to him. "And who are you? What's a little boy like you doing out here by yourself?"
He lowered his arm a little more, holding it at his waist, though he was still ready to strike if needed.
"I'm Burgh," he said quietly, watching her very carefully, "and I'm running away…"
Lenora's eyes widened a little.
"Running away? From who, baby?" she asked, sounding shocked about something.
"From my mom," he said, a bit of bitterness woven into his tone. "Well, she says she's my mom, but she's way too old. Like fifty."
Lenora nodded thoughtfully. She seemed to understand.
"How come? What'd she do?"
He flinched little when she stepped closer, bringing his arm back up quickly. She stopped and put her hands up in defense.
"It's okay, I'm not going to hurt you, Burgh, I just wanted to make sure you aren't hurt," she explained carefully. He pulled his arm back down.
"My leg hurts a little…" he admitted, feeling the pain crawl up from his ankle.
"Can I see it?" she asked tentatively, taking a testing step forward. He watched her foot, but didn't do anything. For some reason he felt like he should trust her. He nodded slowly. She walked up to him, and when she was about two feet away from him she crouched down to meet him at eyelevel. He tensed when she lightly pulled up the leg of his olive green cargo pants.
"Where does it hurt?" she asked, looking up at him. He bent down to take off his shoe, and he was surprised when she let go of his pant leg when he did so. She gave him space, something he never had. He took off the tennis shoe and then his sock. He set his foot back down on the ground, wiggling his toes a little. Lenora's eyes trailed to his ankle, which he saw was slowly getting purple and swollen.
"Ooh…Baby, that doesn't look very good, we need to get you to a doctor," she said, lightly touching it with her index finger. A sharp pain hit him.
"Ow!" he cried, jumping back from her touch. She jerked her hand away quickly, holding both of her hands in the air shortly after.
"I'm sorry!" she said quickly. "I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"It's…It's okay," he said, lightly putting his foot down on the ground again, though not putting weight on it. Lenora straightened out and held out a hand. His green eyes snapped from her hand to her face quickly, confusion rippling through them.
"Burgh, I know you don't know me very well, and I know you probably don't trust me just yet, but I think we should get you to a hospital. Is it okay if I carry you there? I don't want you to get any more injured than you already are."
His eyes widened a little. Was she offering to help him? A random stranger, who also happened to be a gym leader? He thought it over quickly, going through all the risks he may take by saying yes. Eventually he nodded and took her hand.
"Okay."
She smiled warmly and crouched down to pick him up. She lifted him up and held him close to her rather large chest. As odd as it was, he really felt like he could trust this woman; Lenora, she had said.
"Are you okay?" she asked, beginning to walk in the way she had come. He nodded.
"Yes…But wait, my shoe, are we gunna get it?" he asked, looking a bit nervous. Lenora chuckled a little.
"It's okay, Burgh, we can get you some new shoes, ones that aren't all torn up," she added, looking at the one shoe he still had on.
"B-But my mom said that if I lose my shoes I don't get any more for the month and I gotta do chores instead of play outside in the woods," he said quietly. He always did what his mother said, because if he didn't, she'd take away the woods. And the woods were like his home.
Lenora nodded, not saying anything for a moment.
"Burgh…Do you like it with your mom?" she asked carefully. "The way you describe her makes her sound very mean."
"She's really mean!" he confirmed, shaking his head quickly. "I can't do anything there and she hates me! Please don't make me go back!" he ended in a pathetic little sob, crying into his hands. She gave a little shush and lightly kissed his forehead.
"I wouldn't dream of sending you back there," she said soothingly. "Any parent that works a child this hard knows nothing about parenting."
Burgh looked up at her, green eyes wide and curious. She wasn't going to make him go back? He wouldn't see that old lady ever again? He wrapped his arms around her neck in a hug, and Lenora was so shocked that she stopped walking.
"Thank you. Thank you so much, Lenora," he whispered, snuggling closer. He definitely fully trusted her.
She smiled.
"You're welcome, baby," she said quietly, lightly stroking his messy light brown curls. "Now let's get you fixed up," she added, stepping out of the woods and onto the paved roads twisting into town.
He looked up curiously, green eyes surveying the scene.
"Where are we going?" he asked. Lenora smiled.
"To my hometown; Nacrene city."
Well there you have it! A second chapter should be up in a few minutes to an hour! I hopeyou stick with this one; I plan to make it long! :D Positive reviews are always appreciated~!
